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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

THE CHASER BOYS TO ADDRESS THE SIRENS MASTERCLASS ON MAY 11 IN SYDNEY

Members of the renowned comedy and Logie Award-winning team, The Chaser (right) will be attending the Siren Awards breakfast and speaking at the Masterclass, which will follow the breakfast, called “So Who the Bloody Hell Are We?” next month in Sydney. The Chaser team members, Chas Licciardello and Andrew Hansen, will be talking about why their irreverent humour works in Australia and also about confronting and lampooning key players from the world of politics, business, religion, media and culture. Best-known for their work on CNNNN (Chaser Non-Stop News Network) and election coverage specials, Chaser Decides, the team has an irreverent comic attitude to just about everything. Their latest show on ABC TV, The Chaser War on Everything, is another satirical comedy in which no target is spared. Also attending the breakfast and speaking at the Masterclass, a creative seminar focusing on Australian comedy, is well-known Australian comedy director, Ted Emery. Emery will present the winner of the 2006 Siren Awards at the breakfast and also be guest speaker at the Masterclass. Arguably one of Australia’s greatest comedy directors, and best-known for his work on the smash hit, Kath & Kim, Emery will talk about the secret to Kath and Kim’s success and any lessons that can be learnt for advertising.The Masterclass will also feature Senior Lecturer in Cinema Studies at La Trobe University, Dr Felicity Collins. Dr Collins has won a two-year Australian Research Council Discovery Grant looking at how comedy can be understood in terms of nationhood and identity and will talk about radio’s role in the formative years.International creative expert and creator of the award-winning Australian radio brand campaign, Ralph van Dijk of Eardrum Australia will also talk at the Masterclass. Last month, Van Dijk’s agency, Eardrum International, won five awards at the UK 2006 Aerial Awards for radio advertising including the Gold, Silver and Bronze in the Best Directing category. The winner of the 2006 Siren Awards will be chosen from the winners from the five rounds of the Awards already held and will be judged by the Siren Creative Council - comprising leading creative directors from national advertising agencies. The 2006 winner will be automatically entered into the inaugural Cannes Radio Lions – to be held in June and will also win two tickets to attend the festival.Last year’s inaugural Gold Siren Award winner was the Victoria Bitter campaign. The spot, written by Josh Stephens and Ben Coulson from George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne, with creative director, James McGrath, uses comedy and the well-known VB theme song to sell beer. Both the Sirens breakfast and Masterclass will be held at Taronga Zoo in Sydney on May 11. The breakfast will be hosted by Nova 969’s Bianca Dye. It will run from 8am to 9:30am and the Masterclass will follow the breakfast and includes lunch. Tickets are on sale now at $550 for the breakfast and Masterclass combined and $60 for breakfast only. For more information contact phone 02 9281 6577 or to download your ticket booking form, visit the dedicated website www.sirenawards.com.au.

"Dr Collins has won a two-year Australian Research Council Discovery Grant looking at how comedy can be understood in terms of nationhood and identity and will talk about radio’s role in the formative years."

"Dad, this is my new girlfriend. Her name is Cindy""Hello Sir""WHAT? Don't you 'SIR' me you snotty little bitch. Look at you with your shit Melbourne hair, your shit melbourne tits and your shit Melbourne shins. You make me sick.""But dad, i like her""YOU LIKE WHAT I TELL YOU TO LIKE YOU LITTLE RETARD!""sniff""Goodbye Sir. It was lovely to meet you"(Cindy walks away quietly...)"Now son, help out daddy and hold this for me (zip)"